Presentation

Introduction

Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field which combines mathematical and computer sciences with biology and/or medicine. With the recent advancements in biomedical research, biologists are frequently overloaded with large amounts of data which need to be managed, understood and analyzed in automated ways. Bioinformatics provides the tools to understand complex biological systems ranging from entire ecological systems, to specific human diseases, to cellular and molecular networks.

The master in Bioinformatics for Health Sciences of the UPF aims to provide professionals and researchers with expertise and skills geared towards developing new computational strategies and IT systems that are useful in biomedical research.

One of the essential features of this master's degree is its high content in optional subjects, which enables students to train in a broad range of bioinformatics topics in the area of biomedicine, and especially in computational techniques. Also, the inclusion in the master's degree of design, management and exploitation of scientific projects as compulsory subjects is proof of the programme's professional vocation.

Professors

The Master of bioinformatics for Health Sciences of the UPF has a faculty staff with both a long experience in teaching and research careers widely recognized. To implement this master, expert researchers on each field have been selected at Universitat Pompeu Fabra and Universitat de Barcelona on each of the subjects taught: Molecular Biology, Genetics, Mathematics, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Drug Design and others. The profile of these researchers is also diverse: full professors, associate professors, ICREA researchers among others.

In addition to that prestigious staff, national and international researchers and entrepreneurs in the world of bioinformatics and genomics come to visit and share their experience with the master students.

Students profile

Bioinformatics is a challenging field, requiring working knowledge of different disciplines.

There are two kind of candidates profiles:

Students with a degree in Biological and Health sciences ( Biology, Medicine, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Pharmacy, etc...)

Students with a degree in Computer Science, Engineering and basic scientific disciplines (Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics)

Candidates should be interested on the development and application of computational tools which are useful in biomedical field. For more information on admission requirements please go to the access and admission website

Career prospects

There are a wide range of career prospects, in both the private and the public sectors, and in all fields of bioinformatics applied to biomedicine. The main of them are:

Bioinformatician for research groups in Academia, hospitals or private companies (biotech, pharma or bioinformatics)

The master is the start point of a Doctorate in Biomedicine.

Internship

Internships are carried out during the second year, in both public and private laboratories in the Barcelona area; although students may also choose to do their internship in other regions or countries.